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What's on TV: 'Master of None,' 'LocoRoco Remastered'
This week we're anticipating the second season of Aziz Ansari's Master of None on Netflix, as well as a 4K remastered release of Heat on (1080p, unfortunately) Blu-ray. Sports fans, of course, have the NHL and NBA playoffs, but should also keep an eye out for the cartoonish NBA Playgrounds game on the way. Other notable videogame releases include LocoRoco Remastered on PS4, and on Xbox One, the Hot Wheels DLC for Forza Horizon 3. Look after the break to check out each day's highlights, including trailers and let us know what you think (or what we missed).
Europe's heroic Vita Mega Pack has Worms, Ratchet & Clank
Sony Europe revealed a new "PS Vita Heroes Mega Pack" for its handheld system today, bundling together five games and a memory card for the console just in time for the holiday season. Slated to launch on November 19 (November 21 in the UK), the pack includes the following games: Worms Revolution Extreme Ratchet and Clank Jak and Daxter Lemmings Touch LocoRoco Players can opt to pick up the games alone with an 8 GB memory card for €40 ($49.75). Those without the console can also choose to purchase the games, memory card and a PlayStation Vita in one pack for €200 ($248.80) instead, the same price as a standalone Vita system. Sony issued other "Mega Pack" bundles for the Vita in the past, including the more recent adventure game pack revealed in August, which includes Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Tearaway and Gravity Rush. [Image: SCEE]
Sony debuts three new UMD Dual Packs for January
Sony is still putting out new UMD dual packs for the PSP. Adding to previous packs are three new bundles, once again packaged by genre. Each will be available as a download through PSN or at your favorite brick-and-mortar in January. For $14.99, you can snag one of these new Dual Packs: Patapon and LocoRoco; Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee and Hot Shots Tennis: Get a Grip; or Motorstorm: Artic Edge and Twisted Metal: Head On. If you've been waiting to pounce on these PSP classics, now may be the time – unless you're waiting on the Vita. Of course, if you've waited long enough for these PSP games, odds are you're waiting on the Vita, too. And to think your mom said you'd never be a smart shopper. Way to show her!
LocoRoco themed nursery is Mui Mui amazing
Mach Kobayashi is an effects artist at a little computer animation house called Pixar. His newborn son, Dyson, just might end up in the games industry one day, thanks to the work of a family friend. Mach wrote in to share photos of Dyson's nursery, painted by professional set designer Asaki Oda to look like it's smack dab in the whimsical world of Sony's LocoRoco. Both Mach and his wife Tracy are big fans of the games, and we're just guessing little Dyson will be inclined to be one too, growing up looking at this amazing artwork. The mural work was done while the couple was in India to get Dyson and must have made the return home that much more memorable. Soda has documented the process in an online photo album so the whole world can see how the room -- its walls overflowing with multicolored LocoRocos and their friends the Mui Mui -- took shape. If you're reading this, Asaki, expect a call soon -- we all want our entire houses redone by you!
LocoRoco go to PlayStation Home
PlayStation Home will be getting a near-lethal injection of cuteness tomorrow, thanks to the brand new LocoIsland Estate. Available in Europe for £3.99 (US release TBA), the virtual island features a giant tree house and, even more exciting, a virtual cruise. The Estate also grants access to mini-games, like LocoReverse and a Domingo race. In addition to the LocoRoco space, PlayStation Home will also be getting a MotorStorm space. The MotorStorm Carrier is a decommissioned aircraft carrier that also features its own mini-games, quests and rewards (just like real-life aircraft carriers!). Check out trailers for both new spaces after the break.
LocoRoco wallpapers make for a cute Christmas
Our biggest problem when not playing LocoRoco is that we wished we were playing it. Sometimes, you're stuck in a situation where you just can't game, but that doesn't mean you can't have those cute and cuddly little blobs a mere glance away. That's where the PlayStation Blog comes in, as it's just posted some festive LocoRoco wallpapers for all to enjoy, which differ somewhat from those posted by the American site yesterday. Feel free to slap 'em on your computer or on your PSP. And if anyone catches you staring and asks why you're crying, ignore them because that just means they don't get it at all.
New LocoRoco Midnight Carnival DLC just in time for the holidays
To celebrate the holiday season, SCEA has revealed that a three-level DLC pack for LocoRoco Midnight Carnival will be made available tomorrow. Included in the $2.99 pack are the strangely named levels "Shamplin 3," "BungaBongo 1" and "BuiBui Fort 3." SCEA promises each new level will add enough challenge for LocoRoco newbies as well as seasoned players. Those still on the fence about purchasing the latest LocoRoco PSP adventure will be able to play the DLC content through the (already available) Midnight Carnival PSP demo (think: PSP Go's bundled Rock Band: Unplugged trial version). As an added holiday treat, SCEA released a slew of holiday themed LocoRoco Midnight Carnival wallpaper (as seen above) to get you in the festive mood.
A look at multiplayer in LocoRoco Midnight Carnival
The upcoming LocoRoco Midnight Carnival features a competitive score-based multiplayer mode. While this sounds like a good idea, this new video from the PlayStation.blog reveals that it's not very competitive. When connected with a friend over wi-fi, you'll be able to see their position on the map, and you'll see who's in the lead. However, you won't be able to interact with them in any way -- at least, not according to this footage.Midnight Carnival doesn't appear to be a significant departure from the previous LocoRoco games. This video does emphasize the importance of the "Boing" mechanic, which requires players to perform consecutive jumps without taking a break. Midnight Carnival will be available as a PSN download later this week.
LocoRoco Midnight Carnival bounces onto PSP on October 29 for $15
LocoRoco Midnight Carnival is rolling onto the PlayStation Network on October 29 -- that's two weeks from now -- for $15. According to the PlayStation.Blog, that means you'll be able to get "16 brand new stages, full competitive and co-op modes, two minigames, and three additional bonus stages" for the price of three foot-longs at Subway.While Midnight Carnival has very simple controls (only the shoulder buttons are used), we're a bit surprised that the game includes a "Demo Play"-esque feature for the kids. If a particular area is giving you a hard time, go online and connect with a friend that has the "savior mask" on. You'll be able to hold on to that friend and bypass the entire level. We at Joystiq will probably avoid that feature -- y'know, 'cuz we like playing games.
LocoRoco Home space is the happiest place on virtual earth
Sony is set to unleash a new Home space to coincide with the release of LocoRoco Midnight Carnival in Japan this November, andriasang reports. The new destination -- which features an island theme and many of the LocoRoco franchise's signature characters -- will sport "gimmicks" that make it feel more unique than any of the other Home spaces available, Sony says. Sounds fine to us, though we think it's going to be tough granted how high the bar has been set by the Ratchet & Clank space.
Hands-on: LocoRoco Midnight Carnival
The latest, download-only installment in PSP's iconic LocoRoco franchise features many familiar structural and gameplay elements from the first two titles, yet still manages to remain exciting and fresh. LocoRoco Midnight Carnival distinguishes itself from the previous games in that it has a very strong focus on level mastery and overall degree of challenge – Sony told us it's very much geared toward the "hardcore" LocoRoco player.%Gallery-70515%
LocoRoco: Midnight Carnival details bounce into our hearts
A recent PlayStation.Blog post confirmed a few suspicions we had after viewing the debut trailer for LocoRoco: Midnight Carnival. Primarily, the post addresses the game's new arcadey feel -- a side-effect from the implementation of "Boinging," the hyperactive bouncing that was prevalent in the aforementioned trailer. You can string your Boings together, boosting your score multiplier in a Stuntman: Ignition-esque fashion. Man, those are two games we never thought we'd be comparing.No release date or pricing details are mentioned in the post, but considering the game only contains 16 stages, two mini-games and three bonus stages, we're hoping it ends up being easy on the ol' pocketbook.
Bounce into the LocoRoco Midnight Carnival debut trailer
Only hours after announcing it for Japanese release, Sony has revealed LocoRoco Midnight Carnival for European (and presumably American) release. As Justin correctly predicted, there isn't much to localize when it comes to LocoRoco. Unlike previous LocoRoco releases for PSP, this one will release exclusively through the PlayStation Network. From what we can tell from the trailer, this is a far more arcadey game than the originals, with a stronger emphasis on combos, times and scores. Anyone else reminded of Donkey Kong Jungle Beat?While Midnight Carnival was originally announced as a "PSP Go game," don't forget that all PSP models, from Phat to 3000 can play all PSN downloadables.%Gallery-70515%
LocoRoco Midnight Carnival coming to PSP in Japan
"Midnight Carnival" is more than just the name of our favorite Rock/Metal/Glam band from Sugarland, Texas. It's also, according to Famitsu by way of IGN, the subtitle of a new LocoRoco game available for download only on the PSP this November in Japan (the same day the PSP Go arrives there). Details are scarce, but you can expect a new "Boing" move and more difficult stages with an action focus.Though LocoRoco Midnight Carnival hasn't yet been announced in North America, we have to imagine it's a safe bet. It's not as if there's a whole lot of localization to be done for singing balls of goo, right?
iPhone It In: Rolando
Anyone who's ever played LocoRoco has been guilty of it. You just can't help but tip your PSP to the left or right, trying for that extra smidgen of incline to get your gelatinous balls of goo rolling, even though you know it has no real effect. But in ngmoco's Rolando, the controls are all about the angle of your system, and it makes for some of the most fun you can have on your iPhone.
LocoRoco 2: cheaper than the original game
Why is LocoRoco 2 so much cheaper than the original? A. It's so much better than the original game and they simply want more people to play it. B. They're begging you to please just stop pirating their games. Whatever the reason, we're happy with the price, as revealed on the PlayStation.Blog. LocoRoco 2 hits American retail stores on February 10th.%Gallery-27791%
LocoRoco 2 hits the US this February
After such a tiring localization process (from English to ... er, English), LocoRoco 2 will be available in the US this February. The blubbery fellows are finally coming back to the PSP with tons of enhancements over the original title. Watch for it on UMD on February 10th, 2009. [Thanks, Alex L.!]
IGN goes loco with LocoRoco 2 videos
Don't expect to find anything too startling about these LocoRoco 2 videos. We're totally enamored by the upcoming PSP sequel, but the core gameplay experience has remained largely the same. Check out the megaton of videos released on IGN to find out for yourself. One video is embedded, after the break.
This week's LittleBigPlanet DLC is 'Loco'
Expect more LittleBigPlanet DLC to come in every week. Some of it is free, and some of it is not. This week's free LittleBigPlanet DLC is a costume designed by fan "nebu1ou5" for the "LittleBigChallenge 003- Official in-game SackBoy Costume Contest" held on the official LBP website. It's a Sackboy with a very outdated television set over his head and a remote in his hand. See that after the break.As for the content which you'll have to shell out some dough for, there are some weird looking LocoRoco costumes to grab. You can see all five LocoRoco-themed costumes posted above. All five come bundled together for $2.99. For us, these costumes are slightly disappointing seeing as there's only a mild resemblance to the lovable LocoRoco blobs, but we suppose those hand accessories (or LocoRoco bracelets?) make up for it.
TGS 08: LocoRoco 2 and the curiously embargoed trailer
Strangely, only one thing we reported on at Tokyo Game Show this year was under embargo. And that was this LocoRoco 2 trailer. Why? We don't know. If you read our hands-on impressions, you'll know that we're absolutely in love with this rather substantial sequel. Take a watch and see if you can find all the new gameplay features and enemies.
